Playing in the final pairing Sunday at the PGA Championship, Harold Varner III birdied the first hole, while leader Brooks Koepka made bogey, and immediately Varner’s deficit was a more manageable five strokes.
What a start to the final round for Harold Varner III! 🐦#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/RQ4oTGIqK0
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 19, 2019
Two holes later, however, Varner missed his tee shot on the par-3 third wide left and made double bogey from the nasty Bethpage Black rough. It didn’t get any better at the par-5 fourth, where his tee shot again sailed left. And, unfortunately for Varner, his second shot went even further left.
The rough at Bethpage Black is unmatched.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/wZjNVFATi2
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 19, 2019
Varner and a small search party, including Koepka, were unable to find his ball so he had to drop in the original spot of his second shot, with penalty.
Brooks Koepka provides a helping hand in the search for Harold Varner III's ball. 👏#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/39nnjYcTKV
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 19, 2019
He eventually made his second consecutive double bogey and followed that with a bogey at No. 5. He went from five back to 11 back in the span of four holes.